Home Again...

I'm back from another camping trip. It was relaxing and fun. The weather (mostly) cooperated, just a few little patches of rain. We used that opportunity to nap, play cards and generally just lay around-it was great! We went to a place called Clear Lake-and it was just that. We kayaked around the lake, swam with the boys and explored the ample forested trails. Our 5 year old loved it-he was playing army in the woods behind our site all weekend and both boys were as dirty as can be! We even saw a bald eagle on our way back from the little store, it was just sitting on the side of the road. We slowed down because someone had pulled over to check out what we thought might be a turkey-ha city folk-and there he was. It was pretty cool.

So that's where I've been. No internet, no cell phone reception-well perhaps a scant email here and there but that's it! One email I did get was from my good friend Ann. She's a northern Michigan girl I met in TC while working at Grand Traverse Resort. She was in college then at Western Michigan University-studying to be a graphic designer. She was always so creative and one of the funniest people I've ever known!

She's all grown up now and living in Seattle with her beau Bart-their little apartment was featured on Apartment Therapy not too long ago-check it out here. She is working as graphic designer out there but on the side has been working on her small business called Iva Jean.

She entered a contest on the Daily Candy website called 2011 Start Small GO BIG! If selected the small business owners win a trip to New York to meet the likes of Jonathan Adler and Sara Blakely founder of Spanx)-who'll help mentor her and give her some major press-it's an awesome opportunity. She has been selected as one of the 3 finalists in her category-Fashion. Her company Iva Jean is a lifestyle bike fashion start-up, and her debut item-the Rain Cape-is super cute!

Rain Cape-$240 from Iva Jean

Vote for Ann once a day on the Daily Candy site until September 14th-the Winner will be announced September 16th!

Good Luck Ann!!!!